Data Processing Method for Digital Camera

1. A data processing method for a digital camera that may record image data as image files and sound data as sound files on a storage medium, wherein sound files comprise a sound memo file recorded in association with an image file, and a sound record file recorded independently, wherein a sound memo file to be associated with a designated image file is given a same file-name as said designated image file, and is attached with an extender common to the sound files, and is recorded in a same recording directory on said storage medium as said designated image file is recorded.

2. A data processing method as recited in claim 1 , wherein when an image file is selected from among files stored in a recording directory on a storage medium, a sound file having the same file-name as said selected image file has is automatically searched for among those files stored in the same recording directory, and is read out as a sound memo file associated with said selected image file.

3. A data processing method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising steps of: checking a file size of said sound file having the same file-name as said selected image file before said sound file being read out; and processing said sound file as a defective one if said file size is more than a maximum size predetermined for sound memo files.

4. A data processing method as recited in claim 2 , wherein when a delete command is entered while an image is displayed on a display device of said digital camera on the basis of said selected image file, said selected image file is deleted and, if any, said sound memo file associated with said selected image file is also deleted automatically.

5. A data processing method for a digital camera that may record image data as image files and sound data as sound files on a storage medium, wherein sound files comprise a sound memo file recorded in association with an appropriate image file and a sound record file recorded independently, said data processing method comprising steps of: determining a file number for a new image file such that said file number is not used for other image and sound files which are recorded in a recording directory on said storage medium; recording said new image file with an image file name in said recording directory, said image file name consisting of a file-name containing said file number in a predetermined format and a first extender common to any image files; determining a second file number for a new sound record file such that said file number is not used for other image and sound files which are stored in said recording directory; recording said new sound record file with a sound file name in said recording directory, said sound file name consisting of a file-name containing said second file number in the predetermined format and a second extender common to any sound files; recording a new sound memo file with a second sound file name in said recording directory, said second sound file name being obtained by attaching said second extender to a same file-name as that of an image file which said new sound memo file is to be associated with; discriminating between image files and sound files by the extenders attached to the file-names of these files; processing a sound file as a sound memo file when an image file having the same file-name as said sound file has is recorded in the same recording directory; and processing a second sound file as a sound record file when an image file having the same file-name as said second sound file has is not recorded in the same recording directory.

6. A data processing method as recited in claim 5 , wherein a file number for a new image file or a new sound record file is obtained by adding 1 to a preceding file number that is given to the latest image file or the latest sound record file recorded in said recording directory.

7. A data processing method as recited in claim 6 , wherein when said preceding file number reaches a predetermined maximum value, a predetermined minimum value is used as the file number for the new image file or the new sound record file, and said new file is recorded in a second recording directory on said storage medium.

8. A data processing method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising steps of: displaying, when a sound record file is selected from among recorded files, a specific indicia to said selected sound record file on a display device that is used for reproducing images of image files; and deleting said selected sound record file when a delete command is entered while said specific indicia is displayed on said display device.

9. A data processing method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a step of displaying thumbnails of a plurality of files recorded in said recording directory on said storage medium in a sequence relating to the file numbers of said recorded files, wherein a specific thumbnail is displayed in a position corresponding to a sound record file.

10. A digital camera provided with a photography mode for recording image data as an image file, a sound memo mode for recording sound data as a sound memo file in association with an appropriate image file, a sound recording mode for recording sound data as a sound record file independently of image data, and a reproduction mode for reproducing images or sounds, wherein said digital camera switches automatically from said photography mode to said sound memo mode immediately after an image file is recorded while an auto-memo mode is selected in said photography mode, to permit recording sound data in association with the just recorded image file, and may also switch to said sound memo mode in said reproduction mode when a predetermined command is entered while an image of a selected image file is displayed on a display device, to permit recording sound data in association with said selected image file.

11. A digital camera as recited in claim 10 , wherein a sound memo file to be associated with a designated image file is given a same file-name as said designated image file, and is attached with an extender common to the sound files, and is recorded in a same recording directory on said storage medium as said designated image file is recorded.

12. A digital camera as recited in claim 11 , wherein when an image file is deleted, a sound memo file having the same file-name and being recorded in the same recording directory as said deleted image file is automatically deleted.

13. A digital camera as recited in claim 10 , wherein when a sound record file is selected in said reproduction mode, a specific indicia to said selected sound record file is displayed on said display device.

14. A digital camera as recited in claim 13 , wherein said selected sound record file is deleted when a delete command is entered while said specific indicia is displayed on said display device.

15. A digital camera as recited in claim 13 , wherein sounds recorded as said selected sound record file begin to be reproduced in response to a pressing operation on a predetermined operation button while said specific indicia is displayed on said display device, and stop in response to a second pressing operation on said operation button.

16. A digital camera as recited in claim 10 , wherein said digital camera is further provided with a thumbnail mode wherein thumbnails of a plurality of stored files are displayed on said display device, and a specific thumbnail is displayed in a position corresponding to a sound record file.